Happy Birthday Avery!!

I can't believe the day is finally here! You are a one year old today! I have thought of  this day for a while now and can't believe it's here... sniff, sniff. Happy birthday sweet girl! One year ago today mine and your daddy's life changed forever. This past year has been the sweetest one of my life. You are such a joy and watching you grow has been a blessing. I can't believe how time passes so quickly; I will cherish so many memories of your first year in my heart. You are changing with the blink of an eye! You are really starting to turn into a little toddler now. Pulling up, cruising, walking every where with your walker and standing, but still a little afraid to take that first step on your own. You are very active and never ever sit still! You have quite the appetite, despite being so tiny, you love every thing we eat so that makes it easy for mommy. Your favorites are spaghetti, grilled chicken, green beans, carrots, and bananas. You can communicate with us more now also. You sign for milk when you want it and you sign "all done" when you're full. Your adorable little grin now has 7 seven teeth.  You love to be held, but also love to be independent and get into and explore everything. You will play in your play room for hours while I sit and watch you. Oh how I love to sit and watch you play and talk to your toys and read books to yourself.  You are such an easy baby; you love to run errands with mommy, go shopping, go out to eat, car trips and meet new people.  We love you to pieces! I can't imagine my life without you in it. One year of loving you has flown by and I can't wait to watch you grow into a beautiful and godly little lady. Just slow it down some so I can keep you my baby for longer. :)

Happy one year! I love you to the moon and back.

Love, momma

Our last day with an 11 month old...

We had a fun day with Avery today. I couldn't help but think this was her last day as an 11 month old! Several people when we were out would say, "she is so cute, how old is she?" I told every one that she was 11 months. Even though she'll be a year tomorrow, I'm still not ready to say that. Ha! It sounds too big. :) We went to the doctor this morning mainly to get her ears checked. She had been pulling on one ear for a few days with no fever or fussing. She is rarely fussy and with her last and only ear infection she wasn't fussy. I wasn't sure so we took her in to make sure she didn't need any medicine before her party weekend. She is fine, no ear infection thank goodness. She weighed in at a whopping 17lb and 4 oz! This is a 10 oz gain since her last appt., yay! She is so tiny so I'm always happy to see her gaining weight. They didn't do any other measurements this time. She was good, but afraid she was going to get a shot so she cried every time the nurse walked in, poor thing. Then we went to lunch at the Southlake Town Square and walked around a few stores. Avery enjoyed the stroller ride and people watching. After her nap we took her to our friend's house from church. They live in the country and have all sorts of animals. She was especially interested in the puppies and horses. She was so excited to see them, it was fun to watch her light up. It was a good day! This weekend is the big princess birthday party in Austin with all the family! I can't wait. I have been working hard on all the decorations. She is having another party with her friends in Denton the following weekend. Let the celebrating begin!!

She was saying "please pick me up and get me out of here before they pull the needles out. :)
Love the scrunched up nose grin
Sweet girl entertaining herself with the tongue blade. 

She loved the horses and was fearless with them. She wanted to climb on it soo bad. I was too afraid to even let her pet it too much let alone get on it! She laughed and clapped when all the horses would run; it was too cute.
She was in heaven with the puppies. This girl loves animals!

Made me want to get another puppy cause she loves them so much. Then I though for a second and said no way! :)

One year ago a week from today...

One year ago today, we were so excited that we were going to meet you. We were all ready, our bags packed, our house spotless and your little bed all ready for you. This picture was the night before we met you.

Bright and early we went to the hospital to be induced. We were so excited we could hardly stand it. 

Love at first sight! You were born that afternoon and we were overjoyed.

So tiny and perfect... you had your daddy wrapped around your little finger from the start.

I'll never forget that sweet little face and how you just stared and studied our faces.

Needless to say, we were so in love with you.

My dream come true, you were finally in my arms and I was a mommy!

And we thought we loved you then...

Fun with the Averys'

Avery had her friend, Avery Kate, over to play while her mommy and daddy had plans. They had a great time playing together. These girls are so cute together! They are both so petite and dainty, I love it! It did get a little confusing for both of them when I would say "Avery no no" or "Avery, come here". They both looked at me like I was silly. Poor things. We try to stick to Avery and Avery Kate, Ave and Aves, or little Avery and Avery...still a little confusing but they will learn. I took a few pics of these little cuties tonight.

Reading lots of books

Stuffing their faces with spaghetti, yum!
Playing with all the tupperware= fun times
Rub-a-dub! They still had spaghetti faces in the pic
"reading" to each other
Avery Kate loves little Avery's car. She was ready to go with her blanket and dog in the car. :)
All clean and smelling so sweet!
Sweet friends

My Big Girl

I was putting Avery in the car today and I just kept staring at her because I couldn't believe how big and grown up she looked. My baby is is turning into a big girl! My mind keeps going back to when she looked like this, so little. I wish I could hold her one more time as a tiny newborn. 

                                         

                          

                       Look at her now! What a big difference. 

 I admit I'm a little(or a lot) emotional lately thinking about my baby being one. I just can't believe it! Why does time have to go by so fast? You may have to put up with me going down memory lane this next week and half before her birthday. I'm a little sentimental and emotional (just ask Luke about that. :) We are having fun planning her party! I really am so thankful that God has blessed me with such a beautiful and healthy daughter who will turn one in a few days. After working in the NICU especially, I know that a lot of parents don't get to enjoy seeing their baby's first year. We are blessed. I love this girl soo much!!

My Baby is Growing Up!

"Hey everyone, guess what I've been up to this last week?"

"Practicing walking! Yeah, I'm so proud of myself and having so much fun!"

"See how excited I get!"

"I walk all around the house like this....



My pink walker goes a little too fast for me so I end up running until I fall and then I laugh so hard cause I think it's funny...
Mommy loves to see my little diaper butt waddling along :)"

-Aves

My Busy little, almost one year old

Avery is growing up too fast! I can't believe in two weeks she will be one! It makes me sad, but excited too. She is into everything and is everywhere as usual. She is communicating a lot more now and actually calls me momma instead of just saying it all day long. She is signing for milk, eat and all done. It is so cute. I love this little girl to pieces!!

Here she is eating a PB&J for the first time...verdict is

She loved it!
She also loves it when daddy shares his smoothie with her...

and playing with the dogs through the back door. :)
We went to our friends house the other day(April and Avery Kate) and the girls thought it was tons of fun to play in the huge dog kennel. I promise we didn't put them in there!
She loved Avery Kate's toys. Especially the dolls and doll stroller.
Avery Kate was sweet and let us borrow some new toys that she doesn't play with anymore. This one in the picture Avery has loved the last few days and a walker too. (more to come on fun with the walker. Avery is working on a post about that ;) )